What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to A Colour Symphony. I love this work.

[Gold Knight]

Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op.36 and Symphony No.4 in B-Flat Major, Op.60, both works performed by the Herbert von Karajan led Berliner Philharmoniker.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Piano Concerto for the left-hand. Stunning performance.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Symphony No. 3. I love this symphony.

[The new erato]

Now:

[asin]B004SVNIGK[/asin]

Listening to Symphony No. 3. Beautiful work, but with just enough grit in it to make it interesting.

One of many Chandos discs I really ought to pick up - and probably would if they only would appear on -20% sale occasionally. Not that I'm adverse to paying full price, but they tend to get swamped in all the stuff that is on offer.

[The new erato]

Now disc 2 from this still wonderful set:

[asin]B0072BYDQC[/asin]

Working from home today; writing a quarterly report that usualy a couple of days work. Did the first half from my office yesterday.

[rigormortis]

Reply to the Aimard record:

Last year I saw Aimard play in Eindhoven, Holland
and he played this:

Liszt - La lugubre gondola
Wagner - Album Sonate
Liszt - Nuages gris
Berg - Sonate
Liszt - Unstern! Sinistre, disastro
Skrjabin - Sonate nr 9
Liszt - Sonate in b

Absolutely beautiful, he played very decisive and virtuoso, but sensitive as well, I was amazed to hear him play that well!

[Florestan]

Intriguing as well, any elaboration in due time would be most welcome.

Sorry for the belated answer.

The man.

The music.

Hope it helps.

[Florestan]

Perfect music for starting the day.

[Lisztianwagner]

Maurice Ravel
Daphnis et Chloé

[asin]B000065TUZ[/asin]

[Florestan]

It's going to be a flute day. 

[Conor71]

Ligeti: String Quartet No. 1


The Clear or Cloudy set just arrived this afternoon and I am anxious to hear it so to the top of the listening pile it goes!. I want to relisten to the Ligeti Project set as well so I will play these 2 sets over the next couple of days

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

And NO, Christmas is not over  for me until I played all of my Christmas CD'S, and I have yet a few to go!

So CD II of this fine set.  Good morning.

[Florestan]

And NO, Christmas is not over  for me until I played all of my Christmas CD'S, and I have yet a few to go!

A few more Christmases you mean, right? 

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

CD III with a particularly fine rendition of "Stille Nacht" transposed down to fit a Tenor, ( Charles Daniels, and Baritone Stephen Charlesworth). I enjoyed it immensely and plan to sing this next Christmas with some friends as choir. All in all this 4 CD box is a treasure trove, with just a few very modern duds, not fit for Christmas, whatever those composers thought when putting it together.

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

A few more Christmases you mean, right? 

Sure absolutely, if God grants me this time I will, and merrily too!

[Sergeant Rock]

First listen to these performances: Shostakovich String Quartets 1, 2 and 3 played by the Emerson Quartet




Sarge

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Next in my Christmas que is this very much underrated masterwork of Saint Saens. This performance is within its parameters okay, but I am still waiting for a version where the Soprano, in this case Ute Selbig, and the Mezzo Annette Markert, would sing without the melodramatic passion that takes away the magic. Apart from this the choir is doing fine as is the orchestra. Who could withstand tears hearing "Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domine" hauntingly beautiful!

[Que]

Truth to tell, I'm not the one to ask, since I'm pretty "lukewarm" myself with most music from that era, and bought it on impulse at Barnes and Noble's brick and mortar store, to have something new to play for Christmas Day--for me anything from that period is simply an interesting change of pace.   I'll probably trot it out again next Christmas Day, but I doubt it will get a hearing before then.

It didn't sound that hot when sampling either. So, despite Ensemble Organum's strong track record, I'll pass on this one.

BTW, that Handel Caldara disc Erato posted needs to off your shopping list and into your shopping cart.  It's quite excellent all around.

I suspected as much - thanks for the endorsement!


Listening now:



As requested by Harry, some pointers about the performances!

First of all, at the 7,99 euros I paid (it is 10 at jpc), this is an wonderful bargain.  (Harry, check your local Kruidvat! )

Compared to the recordings by the ensemble L'Astrée in Naïve's Vivaldi edition that are spread out 4 discs, Collegium pro Musica sounds, perhaps also due to the closer recording, "smaller", more rustic, less polished. Overall L'Astrée's performances come across as a bit more sophisticated - leaving aside whether that is what you're looking for. This set also covers (a few) less works than L'Astrée, not sure about the details on that - the classification of Vivaldi's works is quite an enigma to me and seems to lead to different approaches. Another important feature is that L'Astrée frequently uses different types of flutes as a solo, in this set that role is consistently taken up by a recorder.

Given the choice, for anyone already owning the L'Astrée recordings I don't see an urgent need to acquire this set, but on the other hand it offers a different approach in various aspects. These are nicely rustic yet accomplished, hands-on-performances. For Vivaldi (or recorder) buffs definitely in the "nice to have" category.

Of course Il Giardino Armonico recorded these pieces as well (Teldec/Warner), but those I'm not familiar with.

Q

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

It didn't sound that hot when sampling either. So, despite Ensemble Organum's strong track record, I'll pass on this one.

I suspected as much - thanks for the endorsement!


Listening now:



As requested by Harry, some pointers about the performances!

First of all, at the 7,99 euros I paid (it is 10 at jpc), this is an wonderful bargain.  (Harry, check your local Kruidvat! )

Compared to the recordings by the ensemble L'Astrée in Naïve's Vivaldi edition that are spread out 4 discs, Collegium pro Musica sounds, perhaps also due to the closer recording, "smaller", more rustic, less polished. Overall L'Astrée's performances come across as a bit more sophisticated - leaving aside whether that is what you're looking for. This set also covers (a few) less works than L'Astrée, not sure about the details on that - the classification of Vivaldi's works is quite an enigma to me and seems to lead to different approaches. Another important feature is that L'Astrée frequently uses different types of flutes as a solo, in this set that role is consistently taken up by a recorder.

Given the choice, for anyone already owning the L'Astrée recordings I don't see an urgent need to acquire this set, but on the other hand it offers a different approach in various aspects. These are nicely rustic yet accomplished, hands-on-performances. For Vivaldi (or recorder) buffs definitely in the "nice to have" category.

Of course Il Giardino Armonico recorded these pieces as well (Teldec/Warner), but those I'm not familiar with.

Q

Right I will check out Kruidvat and if there will buy them. Thank you for this detailed review.